Discussion: Run limits in tournaments

Run limits in tournamentsI watched some of the SPA tournament in Plano this weekend and again they miss the point of run limits. In the pool play (where you are likely to get AAA's playing AA's etc they had no run limit. First game I watched a AAA team scored 14 in the first and the game was over. It lasted only 3 innings. Thats not fair to the AA team. The pool is where you need the 5 run limit the most, I think they are just placating the bigger teams.

I played in that tour on a 60 AA team.
I have played on AAA and AA and have a different view depending on the direction I am looking.
I like being not being limited when batting. It can give some guys more tournament at-bats then normal.
I like pool play open for the additional at-bats, and, if you are decent AA most AAA will not kill you.
Just my view.

that great if your the AAA team getting all the at bats. And there is a reason one team is AAA and the other AA. At least with the 5 run limit both team get close to equal ab's. I'm sure most AAA teams would rather play other AAA teams but in Senior ball that does not happen often. Last year in Baytown we played 2 Major 4 AAA's and one AA. My suggest is two fold, one don't use the pool to seed, most tournament directors know who is who, and sometime a good team gets a tough draw in the pool and ends up in the weaker division. In pool Example: 55AA play 60AAA or Major. Would be good competition//

Also the 5 run is good in the summer, it gets a team off the field, nothing takes it our of a player than be in the field for that extra time in the heat. And again it keeps the games somewhat closer and normally the best team still wins.

RED, there should be 5 runs given to AA teams when they play AAA teams. OR if AA plays a major team ,they should get 10 runs ,this should make for a better game and give the AA team a fighting chance. BUT, i would be more concerned of injuries as the major teams hit the ball too hard and the AA infield may not have the reflexes to protect themselves. this may need to be discussed when the associations have their annual meetings to discuss policy. my .02c. thanks.RED, I AM SORRY to read that you are giving up playing softball. i know that you will miss playing the game and the frienships developed over the years. best of luck in whatever you do.

I have played also on both end of the 5 run rule and no run rule. I think if your team has to play up the upper team plays the lower teams rules. We have played this way in the past and has worked very well for all the players. the power and the defense the major team have are a little offset with the 5 rule rule. and the AA team are just not out on the field for bp. there will be cases a AA or a AAA will get hot and they will win.But it about being able to play and the fellowship that we have not just winning and most important not hurting someone by accident. the long you are on the field more of a chance of getting hurt. Still have your run rules but strech them over 5 innings and play and have fun so more teamms will come and play tournaments and not stay at home reading about playing a bigger class of teams and getting there eyes drill out.

I agree with the five runs per at-bat per inning limit. My team recently played in a tournament in Palm Springs. My team is a Major team and we were playing a Major + team. After four innings, we were leading by a score of 12 to 5. In the bottom half of the fifth inning, the Major team scored 25 runs (many were home runs over the fence) ...game over in 5 innings. At least with the 5 run rule, teams can play at least 6 innings with an open inning in the 7th. Also most games will finish before the time limit because you don't have the long drawn out inning.
Lastly, a team can either score five runs on HR's or the otld fashion way.

I understand the need for the run rule IF you are ahead, but someone enlighten me on why it still applies to the team that is behind! If you are down by 10 runs in the fourth inning, you can only score 5 runs?!
Doesn't seem quite right to me.

5 runs an inning rule is a joke...if you bat 9th in the lineup,and you go 3 up and down for 3 innings chances are your going to bat twice a game if your only hitting 10"why not have unlimited runs for the team trailing in the game,you can only tie the game,or come from behind and take a lead of 5 runs...

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